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Since days of previous, Kitakyushu has been thought of the gateway to Kyushu, the third-largest of Japan’s 5 most important islands. It is sensible, then, that your exploration begins right here and, extra particularly, within the a part of town that was as soon as the citadel city of Kokura. Now break up into two wards — the city Kokurakita within the north and the comparatively rural Kokuraminami within the south— the previous Kokura space is definitely traversed by way of the fast, handy and eco-friendly Kitakyushu Monorail. After all, earlier than boarding the monorail, you’ll must get to Kitakyushu. To not fear — town’s Kokura Station is on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line, slightly below an hour from Hiroshima Station and simply over two hours from Shin-Osaka Station.
Tokiwabashi Bridge
Easy and Sustainable Tourism
The monorail, a powerful four-car workhorse that may match 1,076 folks per practice at full capability, takes 19 minutes to journey finish to finish. Frequent departures — each seven minutes throughout rush hour and 10 minutes at different occasions — make it best for leisurely exploration and a basic a part of town’s sustainability objectives because it seeks to scale back the usage of personal automobiles. As a bonus, the road is much less affected by antagonistic climate than different strategies of transportation. Not solely does the monorail present quick access to all kinds of points of interest, it additionally provides customers with gorgeous views of town. Choose up a day cross and head out for an journey. With the Kitakyushu Monorail, this chic metropolis is yours to find.
Earlier than You Board
Previous to hopping aboard, take a couple of minutes to wander Kokura Station and its environs. For a slice of historical past, stroll throughout the reconstructed Tokiwabashi Bridge. Through the Edo interval, this was the start and finish level for a lot of roads that crossed Kyushu, and as such, it’s a becoming spot to begin your exploration. When you’re inquisitive about manga then head to the Kitakyushu Manga Museum in Aruaru Metropolis, a multi-floored shopping center. In case your journey coincides with the annual winter illumination occasion, make sure to go to the world in the course of the night hours for an excellent show of colour.
Kokura Citadel
Heiwa-dori Station: Historical past on Show
After embarking in your monorail journey at Kokura Station, journey only one cease to Heiwa-dori. From there, Kokura Citadel, a 1959 reconstruction of the 1602 unique, and its strolling backyard are only a brief stroll away. The citadel options interactive reveals that introduce its historical past and the foremost gamers related to the citadel city, together with the Hosokawa and Ogasawara households that dominated the area starting within the early Edo interval. The neighboring backyard and reconstructed Edo-period samurai mansion off period enjoyable spot to admire seasonal hues. Cultural experiences, together with tea ceremony, might be loved right here too.
From late October to early November, the citadel hosts the Kokura Citadel Takeakari, an occasion that sees the grounds illuminated by greater than 30,000 bamboo lanterns. The bamboo is sustainably harvested from deserted forests and recycled afterwards. Different locations of curiosity embrace the Uomachi Gintengai buying arcade and the Mizukankyokan (River Museum). From April to October, the museum holds canoeing packages on the Murasaki River. Please observe that reservations are required.
Tanga Market
Tanga Station: Market Amusement
Subsequent up is Tanga Ichiba market, referred to as the “kitchen of Kitakyushu.” This is a superb vacation spot, rain or shine, because the slender most important road of the market is roofed. The market, which at the moment boasts round 120 distributors, was established roughly 100 years in the past. As you discover, you’ll be mingling with locals looking for ready dishes, contemporary seafood and produce. Whereas available in the market, cease by some kaku-uchi, that are liquor shops the place you should purchase drinks by the glass to sip in-store whereas standing. Guests are in a position to pattern regional sake, shochu and a little bit of native tradition. This model of imbibing is alleged to have originated in Kitakyushu within the early twentieth century.
Toto Museum
Kawaraguchi Mihagino Station: Porcelain Perfection
Japan is world-famous for its bogs, and the subsequent cease will see you plunging into the chronicles of the commode, from conventional squatters to right this moment’s high-tech bogs, on the Toto Museum. Toto, originator of the luxurious bidet, introduces you to its historical past along with that of the bathroom. Exhibitions show merchandise created by the corporate, from taps and fittings to Toto’s Washlet. If bogs aren’t your factor, make your strategy to the Kitakyushu Media Dome, dwelling of Japan’s first biking racetrack, to catch high-speed motion on two wheels.
Katano Station to Tokurikikodan-mae Station: Admiring the View
Industrial tourism fans will need to discover themselves a spot on the very entrance of the practice for the subsequent portion of the journey, for it’s by the entrance window that one of the best views might be had. From Katano Station, the monorail sails over an elevated railway. With good timing, you’ll glide over a Hitahikosan Line practice because it speeds over town.
A very fascinating stretch of observe is that between Jono Station and Kitagata Station. There, the monorail runs beneath and parallel to an expressway. In actual fact, the 2 items of transportation infrastructure share the identical helps and have been constructed concurrently. If structure is your ardour, look eastward — to the left when touring outbound from Kokura Station — as you zip between Moritsune and Tokuriki kodan-mae stations. The hilly nature of Kitakyushu was clearly no match for builders, who constructed sloped residence blocks all down the hillside.
Sakura Alongside the Shii River
Tokuriki kodan-mae Station: Sakura Splendor
Throughout cherry blossom season, disembarking at Tokuriki kodan-mae is a should. Only a temporary stroll will deliver you to the Shii River, alongside which a stunning show of blossoms extends. Take pleasure in a brief stroll below frothy clouds of mild pink earlier than returning to Tokuriki kodan-mae, or proceed alongside the river to Shii Station, from the place you may journey again one station to Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi, your subsequent vacation spot.
Murasaki-gawa koinobori matsuri
Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station: Carp Streamers and Rustling Bamboo
It’s mentioned that Hosokawa Tadaoki, the feudal lord who constructed Kokura Citadel, was keen on the surroundings round Sakurabashi, a close-by bridge spanning the Murasaki River. To him, it resembled the Arashiyama space of his beloved Kyoto, metropolis of his beginning and youth. In keeping with the story, Tadaoki’s father, Hosokawa Fujitaka, introduced cherry timber from Arashiyama and planted them on a hill alongside the river. Now, that hill is called Koarashiyama, or “little Arashiyama.”
Join with the historic determine by admiring the panorama he so beloved. Strolling trails border either side of the river, which is especially spectacular throughout spring’s Murasakigawa Koinobori Matsuri, a pageant that sees tons of of carp streamers dancing within the wind above the river. If wandering beneath leafy bamboo foliage because it whispers within the wind is up your alley, know that an emerald-green paradise awaits on the Ouma Chikurin Bamboo Grove Park. From Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station, a bus will take you partway, however you’ll have to stroll the ultimate 20 minutes to the park.
Ouma Chikurin Bamboo Grove Park
Kikugaoka Station: Beginning Level for Additional Adventures
From Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station, simply because it seems you’re headed for the hills, the monorail makes a tough flip to the east earlier than navigating southeast and crossing the Shii River on its strategy to Kikugaoka, the ultimate station. That is removed from the top of the road in your travels, nevertheless. Switch to the Hitahikosan Line at close by JR Kyushu Shiikoen Station and head to Ishiharamachi Station, the place the doorway to the Hiraodai karst fields is inside strolling distance. Certainly one of Japan’s three main karst terrains, Hiraodai is about as much as enable guests the possibility to expertise these karst formations up shut.
Hiraodai karst fields
Kitakyushu Monorail: Your Key to the Metropolis
That is however a fraction of what there’s to take pleasure in. Experience the road from begin to end. Double again to discover every station space. Cease at eateries alongside the best way to pattern unbelievable native dishes like yaki udon (stir-fried udon) and Kokura niku udon (beef and udon). Switch to a bus or rent a taxi and get your boots prepared for a day of mountaineering, maybe to the three-tiered Sugao Falls. Let the Kitakyushu Monorail be your information as you grow to be acquainted with this dynamic a part of town.
Extra Data
For extra details about touring on the Kitakyushu Monorail, please go to https://monotabi.jp/.
This text was initially printed within the TW September-October 2023 difficulty
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